Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Iran Says LPG Tanker Struck Over Alleged Illegal Hormuz Route
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they hit a large ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas near the Strait of Hormuz.
They said the ship, called NV Sunshine, was using a route Iran considers illegal.
Iran says it is managing the strait and wants ships to use routes it chooses.
Separately, a maritime agency reported that a projectile hit a ship near the United Arab Emirates and caused a fire.
The agency did not name the ship, but a security firm called it GEM NO.2.
The reports do not show whether the two accounts describe connected events.
Officials said they did not yet know the crew's condition or the extent of damage from the UAE incident.
Ships in the region have faced repeated attacks during the Middle East war.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck the LPG carrier NV Sunshine for taking what Iran called an illegal route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Guards said Iranian forces had taken control of administering the strait and require vessels to use routes designated by Tehran.
UKMTO separately reported that a projectile struck a vessel about 13 nautical miles off Al Jazeera Al Hamra, UAE, starting a fire.
UKMTO did not name that vessel; security firm Vanguard identified it as the Panama-flagged crude tanker GEM NO.2.
The reports do not establish whether the two incidents were connected; crew status, damage and environmental impact from the UAE incident were unknown.
- Who
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck the NV Sunshine; UKMTO separately reported a projectile strike on a vessel Vanguard identified as GEM NO.2.
- What
- Iran claimed it struck an LPG carrier taking an allegedly illegal route; a separate report described a projectile strike and fire aboard a vessel off the UAE.
- When
- Friday, October 9, according to one report.
- Where
- The claimed strike was south of the Strait of Hormuz; the separate incident was reported about 13 nautical miles off Al Jazeera Al Hamra, UAE.
- Why
- The Guards said the NV Sunshine was struck for attempting to transit by a route Iran described as illegal.
Iranian account
Maritime reporting
Ship identity and connection between reports
Iranian account
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the NV Sunshine was struck while taking a route Iran considers illegal.
Maritime reporting
UKMTO reported a projectile strike and fire but did not name the vessel; Vanguard identified it as GEM NO.2. The reports do not establish whether the incidents were connected.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian account
The Guards said Iranian forces had taken control of administering the strait, and Iran has sought to require ships to use routes designated by Tehran.
Maritime reporting
The reports describe some ships using an alternative southern route and US military efforts to protect ships there; the United States has also imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
- Vessel named by Iran
- NV Sunshine, a giant LPG carrier owned by NatWit
- Vessel identified by Vanguard
- GEM NO.2, a Panama-flagged crude tanker
- UAE incident location
- About 13 nautical miles (24 kilometres) off Al Jazeera Al Hamra
- Reported damage
- UKMTO said a projectile strike caused a fire aboard the vessel off the UAE
- Crew and environmental impact
- Unknown at the time of UKMTO's report
- Investigation
- Authorities were investigating the UAE incident, UKMTO said
- Strait's energy traffic
- About one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait before the war
